Using grains on lawns-Proteins!

I'm not sure but I'm curious as to what parts of the corn grain remains after the distilling process. Chemically and physically, what is taken out and what remains?
Marcos, I presume you are using dried DG? Also, what kind of operation are you getting it from?

I'm seeing a lot of red thread here, too. But, like you, not so much on my organic lawns.

I'm not sure but I'm curious as to what parts of the corn grain remains after the distilling process. Chemically and physically, what is taken out and what remains?
Marcos, I presume you are using dried DG? Also, what kind of operation are you getting it from?

I'm seeing a lot of red thread here, too. But, like you, not so much on my organic lawns.

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Where do I get it?
A very well-established well-known Midwest-based Ag distributor.

In this article & in Ag circles, DG is always referred to as DDGS, or "dried distillers grains with solubles". This link is very much farm-related, but it's still very much worth the time to read because it looks at DG's fertilizer potential from an Ag perspective, looking out:

Obviously ethanol production has grown exponentially since this Ag-related link was released about 3 years ago.
In the US with more & more ethanol plants coming on-line combined with higher beef prices (driven partially by higher foreign demand), market forces are such that both forms of DG most likely will remain plentiful, & thus relatively affordable.
This is great news for livestock farmers who (according to this link) use by far the majority of distillers grains produced as cattle feed.
And of course this is also a great deal for "specialty market" buyers, like us.

Clue: If you're considering early order load-your-shed savings deals this fall, and you're considering DG as a part of that package, don't listen to or read corn futures!

market forces are such that both forms of DG most likely will remain plentiful, & thus relatively affordable.
This is great news for livestock farmers who (according to this link) use by far the majority of distillers grains produced as cattle feed.
And of course this is also a great deal for "specialty market" buyers, like us.

Clue: If you're considering early order load-your-shed savings deals this fall, and you're considering DG as a part of that package, don't listen to or read corn futures!

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As someone who was hauling Gluten for cattle feed for a while I have to disagree. Corn Futures do have an impact on DDGS.

It always seemed to fluctuate with the rise in feed prices coupled by the Europeans who are the biggest consumers of DDGS products for cattle feed. (they won't feed american bio-engineered products directly to their livestock but they'll buy the DDGS with no problems. ). Last year when Europe had their debt crisis and credit dried up for them, the price of DDGS went through the roof.

Farmers used to get DDGS for free, then they started to charge for it once the Ethanol plants seen a demand for it and could also make some money to keep them in the black. It's been a while since I've been to the ethanol plant, but I'm guessing the pricing keeps going up.

At some point I'm guessing the DDGS isn't going to be viable for LCO's when the price hits a certain point.

And I just took a gander at the pricing. It's more than double what it was this time last year. Dry DDGS was at $50 a ton last year, now it's almost tripled. Corn Gluten Meal has almost gone up 5 times also, and that is the high protein stuff that is used for lawn applications.

And I just took a gander at the pricing. It's more than double what it was this time last year. Dry DDGS was at $50 a ton last year, now it's almost tripled. Corn Gluten Meal has almost gone up 5 times also, and that is the high protein stuff that is used for lawn applications.

Marcos,
Are you still using DDGS?
Is it effective as a fertilizer?
How about preventing seed germination?
This thread is old and wanted to get current info as I have googled and the results are from 2008 studies.

Yes do doubt it's much too early for the jury to return regarding any DG pre-emergent performance with annual weeds.

However we've already made unexpected observations concerning DG.
With this midwest monsoon right now red thread is going absolutely nuts around here in virtually every bluegrass, mixed bg/tall fescue lawn.
This spring so far we've used DG in approx. 85% of our turf including the increasingly minority 100% bluegrass lawns. In fact, most of these same lawns either received DG or a topdressing last Sep or Oct. Red thread is present throughout, but definitely visibly subdued as compared to chemically-fertilized same-cut neighboring bluegrass.

We assume what's happened here is the DG &/or topdressing combo have successfully promoted enough beneficial fungi to combat red thread.
Who knows? Maybe this will hold up later during dollar spot & brown patch seasons! Maybe DG will shake out to be the organic disease control product that corn meal has been touted to be, but never really was.

Do they work? From what I've read and learned from my peers, definitely yes. However, application rates are very high. You almost have to mulch with them. They rot: get a sustained wet period like I'm working with now, and that stuff will mold up and STINK/look like something the cat coughed up. They attract rodents.

Do they work? From what I've read and learned from my peers, definitely yes. However, application rates are very high. You almost have to mulch with them. They rot: get a sustained wet period like I'm working with now, and that stuff will mold up and STINK/look like something the cat coughed up. They attract rodents.

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I have read that the application rate for organic fertilizer is from 15lbs - 20lbs per 1000 sq ft. So yes organic fertilizers have to be used at a higher rate compared to the synthetic fertilizer.

I have read that the application rate for organic fertilizer is from 15lbs - 20lbs per 1000 sq ft. So yes organic fertilizers have to be used at a higher rate compared to the synthetic fertilizer.

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That is not necessarily true. There are newer organic ferts with lower app rates. Also if you know how to read soil tests and male proper adjustment for pH, Cation Exchange Capacity, Calcium-Magnesium Exchange and Soil Organic Matter, soil microbes will make more N in the soil plant available.